LOCAL
DISH
Farm to Brick Modern Bird - The dynamic baking duo husband and wife team Andy Elliott and Emily Stewart are spending one last summer in their pop-up tent at the Sara Hardy Farmers Market. In the fall, they will be trading it in for a location on West Front Street, next to Mary’s Kitchen Port. “When we started at the market our son Daniel was only 5 weeks old. He was strapped to me in the Babybjorn (a baby carrier),” laughs Emily. The couple met in Chicago and Emily was excited to move back home after starting their family. “We love that food is social. We want our restaurant to be comfortable and nostalgic. We love that we will be restoring the building to its grandeur.” They launched their baked goods to get a feel of the local community, gaining a huge following. “Traverse City has its own culture and community,” adds Andy. “We are planning seating for 36, with a full bar and open kitchen concept. It’ll be a 9 am-9 pm kind of place with breakfast, lunch and dinner. We’ll have craft cocktails using a lot of local distilleries and natural wines.” Sarah Hardy Market, modernbirdtc.com Emily Stewart and Andy Elliott with their son Daniel.
Mi Casa Es Su Casa
22
JUNE/JULY 2021 | BAYLIFE MAGAZINE
Bringing Barrio to TC, from Ohio, owners Tony Carano and Jake Hawley
Taco Tuesdays will be taking on a whole new meaning when the newest hot spot in town, Barrio, opens mid-June. “We want this to be your neighborhood bar, where you can have a fun interactive dining experience,” says co -owners Jake Hawley and Tony Carano. The duo has moved here from Cleveland, Ohio, where the Barrio chain originated. Jake was the director of operations and Tony was on the culinary side. Nine years and 13 locations later they premiered in Michigan with an East Lansing location, and an ultimate dream to launch in Traverse City. Barrio, Spanish for neighborhood, is a Mexican themed 4,600 sqare foot restaurant and bar. Famous for its build your own tacos and tequilas. The local Barrio boasts a 40-foot bar that will host over 100 top shelf tequilas. The hand painted Day of The Dead walls, by Cleveland artist Eileen Dorsey, instantly reflect the mood of “let’s party.’ “We want to be the heart of the downtown vibe. It’s super affordable and we hope it’s a place you’ll visit a couple of times a week,” says Jake. It is located on the ground level inside a new building that sits across from J & S Hamburgers on West Front Street. Insider tip from Jake: try the Sassy Pineapple – pineapple infused avion silver, house made morita syrup, and fresh citrus juices. barrio-tacos.com
